title: Identification and characterization of biofilm formation-defective mutants of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.
abstract: Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) develops a biofilm structure both in vitro and in vivo. Despite all the progress achieved by studies regarding biofilm formation, many of its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This work focuses on the identification of new genes involved in biofilm formation and how they are related to motility, virulence and chemotaxis in Xcc. A Tn5 library of approximately 6000 Xcc (strain 306) mutants was generated and screened to search for biofilm formation defective strains. We identified 23 genes not previously associated with biofilm formation. The analysis of the 23 mutants not only revealed the involvement of new genes in biofilm formation, but also reinforced the importance of exopolysaccharide production, motility and cell surface structures in this process. This collection of biofilm-defective mutants underscores the multifactorial genetic programme underlying the establishment of biofilm in Xcc.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr César Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará, CONICET, Saladillo 2468, C1440FFX Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malamud
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnología and Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeiropolis, Sao Pablo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Augusto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Homem
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr César Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará, CONICET, Saladillo 2468, C1440FFX Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Valeria Paola
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Conforte
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr César Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará, CONICET, Saladillo 2468, C1440FFX Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo Marcelo
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Yaryura
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres, Av. William Cross 3150, Las Talitas, Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Atilio Pedro
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Castagnaro
authors.affiliation: IBR-Depto Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, U.N.R. Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Marano
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnología and Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeiropolis, Sao Pablo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Morais
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr César Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará, CONICET, Saladillo 2468, C1440FFX Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adrián Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vojnov
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D002957:Citrus / Q000382:microbiology*; D015723:Gene Library; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014974:Xanthomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins